Weight Loss / UTI / Cystitis

[Zehuri]

Our guinea pig going off her estimated adoption age she will be approximately 4 years old in April. We’ve had her and her sister nearly a year in that time. In there indoor enclosure is 1/3 fleece liners and 2/3 Aubiose.

I have photos to add but haven't managed to upload them on here. When i click on insert image it asks for a URL


Weight Loss

Looking at her weights over the past 10 months she’s sometimes weighed just over a kilo around midday and once in September she weighed 875g but then the next week it was back in the 900g range. But on average she’s sat around 950g give or take 20g

I have attached her weekly weights for the past 3 months to provide a snapshot.

She’s mostly been weighed at midday. When she’s been weighed around 09:00 It’s been highlighted in yellow.

As you can see towards the end of February she’s in the 800g range.



Daily Diet for our 2:

• 85% meadow hay: Large hay pile and fresh handfuls throughout the day
• 1 TbSp Selective Naturals Grain Free Grain Free Pellets each
• 1.5 TbSp Dried Forage each of Rosewood Naturals Fields of Gold
• 50g of fresh veg each : 12.5g of high calcium veg once a week get 25g each of yellow pepper a day
• Water Bottle and Water Bowl: Filtered Water

She has been eating and drinking and pop-corning and running around like normal.


Both girls seemed less enthusiastic about their pellets in recent weeks leaving about 5 or so a day. I’ve heard good things about Piggie Parcels Urinary and Joint Pellets so will try them on a sample and if they like it I’ll switch them to that.


Just the weight loss was my concern and I’d noticed a bit more white staining on the fleece which I normally don’t see often. I was unsure who it was coming from.


So due to her weight loss I took her to the vet.


Vet Visit 1

• Mouth was checked there was no food inside, vet said that was strange
• She urinated at the vets so a sample was taken for analysis: Crystals were seen and blood identified under a microscope
• X-ray showed mineralisation in the dorsal wall of the bladder 2mm by 1mm no sign of a stone. Everything else appeared normal
• Blood Work: All values normal

Medication Prescribed After Vet Visit 1:

• Co- Trimoxazole 14 day course: Due to blood in urine sample in case of infection
• Metacam 7 Day Course
• Potassium Citrate
• Supplement Feed: 8mls per feed, 2 feeds a day mushed pellets with water as she has appetite and is eating and drinking as normal

Vet Visit 3

• Ultrasound showed the same mineralisation in the dorsal wall of the bladder. Vet believes this is an area of previous damage/ inflammation or infection. Crystals could be seen in bladder. Ovaries appeared small and not cystic and kidneys appeared normal

Medication Continued After Vet Visit 3:

• Co- Trimoxazole Antibiotic: Advised to finish 14 day course in case of UTI/ Bacterial Cystitis
• Potassium Citrate: Advised to give long term
• Advised I can give her the mushed pellets with water for extra hydration or give a slice of cucumber instead for hydration

It seems the vet believes she could have a UTI/ cystitis. Not sure if that can cause weight loss?



Fortunately I haven’t seen any blood physically in the enclosure and I spot clean twice daily. She’s never hunched when urinating or vocalised when urinating.



Between Vet Visit 2 and Vet Visit 3 which was a week apart her weight at the vets hadn’t changed much so the exotic vet was not concerned.



However given how her weight used to be comfortably in the 900g/ 950g range, I am concerned. She was weighed today for example and she was 838g at 10:30.





My Questions

• Given my weights for her have previously been around midday if I switch to daily weigh ins should that be around midday or earlier in the morning?
• Potassium Citrate is that useful to continue long term?
• As she still is eating and drinking as normal and acting herself in regard to her weight do I need to start giving her mashed pellets with water or does she need Emeraid Critical Care or just monitor?

Thank you

 

[fluffysal]

Welcome to the forum, you will be able to attach photos when your registration is complete. I am not the most experienced person so I won't give any opinion on the weight issue.
I do however have a bladder prone pig. He's been on the glucosamine pellets for a few months now and in my opinion they've been helpful for him. He's generally much perkier than he was before which is lovely to see.

 

[Zehuri]

 

[Zehuri]

Welcome to the forum, you will be able to attach photos when your registration is complete. I am not the most experienced person so I won't give any opinion on the weight issue.
I do however have a bladder prone pig. He's been on the glucosamine pellets for a few months now and in my opinion they've been helpful for him. He's generally much perkier than he was before which is lovely to see.

I have attached the photos now.

Sorry to hear about your bladder prone pig, glad the pellets are helping.

I am keeping my fingers crossed ours like the pellets.

 

[Zehuri]

Welcome to the forum, you will be able to attach photos when your registration is complete. I am not the most experienced person so I won't give any opinion on the weight issue.
I do however have a bladder prone pig. He's been on the glucosamine pellets for a few months now and in my opinion they've been helpful for him. He's generally much perkier than he was before which is lovely to see.

Thank you for sharing your experience.
By bladder prone does he have cystitis or a UTI issue?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.

Weight checks are best done first thing in the morning - as with us humans - it’s when our weight is naturally at its lowest. Weighing at any other time is just picking up food as well.

Weight loss is considered weight loss when it hits 50g and that is when you step in - that means switching to weighing every day and syringe feeding.
The drop obviously comes between 3 and 10 Feb but has now stabilised.
So weigh her every morning and see what is happening daily and that needs to be your guide as to how much she needs syringe feeding.

A UTI or cystitis will cause weight loss if she is in any pain and reducing her hay intake.
Crystals are the precursor to stones and can mean the balance isn’t right in the diet.

Dried forage and pellets, for me, count as one - if mine get forage they don’t get pellets on the same day.

I also cannot say whether 12.5g of high calcium veg actually means in terms of quantity or calcium
Intake. We don’t weigh veg, we go by volume - one cup of veg per pig per day - lettuce, cilantro, bell pepper and cucumber every day.

Thread 'Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones'

May 29, 2024

1 The Urinary Tract
2 Pees
- Water intake changes
- Pee discoloration
3 Infections
- Bacterial urine infection (UTI)
- Bacterial cystitis
- Sterile cystitis (interstitial cystitis or IC)
4 Stones, Sludge and Crystals
- Crystals, stones and sludge
- Stone and sludge removal
5 Kidneys...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Wiebke's Guides to the Body

 

[Zehuri]

I forgot to add I started to weigh her daily after the second vet appointment. I was waying her mostly around midday before but from what I understand earlier in the morning is better so switch to weighing her around 09:00 am.

Date and Time Weighed​	Weight​
20th February 09:15​	853g​
21st February 09:15​	851g​
22nd February 09:15​	852g​
23rd February 09:00​	853g​
24th February 09:00​	859g​
25th February​	Missed Weight​
26th February 09:00​	855g​
27th February 09:00​	845g​
28th February 09:15​	847g​
1st March 10:30​	838g​
2nd March 09:00​	825g​

The vet asked me after the second vet appointment how she has been with pain relief. I said I've noticed no difference as in change. As in she was eating, drinking, running around and popcorning before she was on pain relief. So the vet said I can stop the Metacam. I know they don't always outwardly show signs of pain so it can be hard to know.

The vet actually said I don't need to weigh her daily but given what her average used to be 2 weeks prior I feel it is necessary to weigh her daily at the same time.

I think the vet may think she has bacterial cystitis, i need to ask for clarification.

Questions

• Should she still be given Metacam? Or can I give her Birch leave forage? I know some people give that instead.
• From the above table, what do you think about her weight? Is the fluctuation just from her bladder/ stomach or is she still losing weight?
• Is 09:00 a good time to weigh her as in first thing in the morning?
• This morning there seems to be tension between the 2 girls they're normally very mellow. The one that is well started to repeatedly mount and chase the girl that is unwell. In the 10 months we've had them she's never done this dominance behaviour, is that because one them being ill is causing tension?
• After the Co- trimoxazole antibiotics 14 day course is completed, should the vet do a urine sample analysis again to see if they can see any blood?

Thank you

 

[Zehuri]

I’m sorry to hear this.

Weight checks are best done first thing in the morning - as with us humans - it’s when our weight is naturally at its lowest. Weighing at any other time is just picking up food as well.

Weight loss is considered weight loss when it hits 50g and that is when you step in - that means switching to weighing every day and syringe feeding.
The drop obviously comes between 3 and 10 Feb but has now stabilised.
So weigh her every morning and see what is happening daily and that needs to be your guide as to how much she needs syringe feeding.

A UTI or cystitis will cause weight loss if she is in any pain and reducing her hay intake.
Crystals are the precursor to stones and can mean the balance isn’t right in the diet.

Dried forage and pellets, for me, count as one - if mine get forage they don’t get pellets on the same day.

I also cannot say whether 12.5g of high calcium veg actually means in terms of quantity or calcium
Intake. We don’t weigh veg, we go by volume - one cup of veg per pig per day - lettuce, cilantro, bell pepper and cucumber every day.

Thread 'Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones'

May 29, 2024

1 The Urinary Tract
2 Pees
- Water intake changes
- Pee discoloration
3 Infections
- Bacterial urine infection (UTI)
- Bacterial cystitis
- Sterile cystitis (interstitial cystitis or IC)
4 Stones, Sludge and Crystals
- Crystals, stones and sludge
- Stone and sludge removal
5 Kidneys...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Wiebke's Guides to the Body

Thank you for your information.


The vet said sadly some pigs can just be prone to crystals/ stones, that genetics can play a factor.

Current Diet:

• There water is all filtered we live in a soft water area
• They have large hay piles and get fresh meadow hay daily (the bulk of their diet)
• 1 TbSp of pellets each a day currently Selective Naturals Grain Free : Looking to switch to Piggie Parcels Urinary and Bladder
• 1 TbSp of dried forage mix: I thought 1TbSp each a day was suitable? I had assumed the mix I give is suitable to give daily. I have attached a photo of what is in it.

Example of Weekly Fresh Vegetables for 1 Guinea Pig:

I was told 1 cup is around 50g.
I was just finding it easier to weigh on the scales hence doing it to grams rather than using a cup.

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 25g yellow/green pepper, a slice of cucumber 5g, 10g coriander and 10g of celery
Wednesday: 25g yellow/ green pepper, 15g coriander and 15g of Romaine Lettuce
Friday: 25g Red Pepper, a slice of cucumber 5g, 10g coriander and 10g of celery
Sunday: 25g yellow/ green pepper, 15g coriander and 15g of something high in calcium just one type so either spinach or kale

Treats
They get 2 pea flakes once a week
After their weekly health check a dried carrot piece the size of a thumbnail

Now that I know one of them has something bladder related if you have any advice on what I could do, that would be great.


Questions:

• With syringe feeding is pellets soaked in hot water suitable as she is eating and drinking and running around/ popcorning or does she need Emeraid Critical Care? I found it strange the exotic vet didn't think she needed to be given supplement feed after Vet Visit 3 this week, given her current weight compared to what she was weighing normally a fee weeks ago
• I asked the vet is she needs to be given probiotics because she's on antibiotics and they said in this case she doesn't. Is that good advice?
• Given what her weight has been over the past 3 months, what weight am I supposed to be aiming for to give me an idea? As there was always a slight fluctuation between weekly weights.

Thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

If there is a risk of any pain, then she should be on metacam.

While her weight loss from 20 Feb to today is within the 30g normal fluctuation, there is actually a definite downward trend. I would be giving enough critical care per day to stop that trend continuing.
I absolutely would be weighing her every day.
9am is fine is you haven’t given any morning food ie veg or critical care. Ideally you want a weight check before any morning food.

Which one is the poorly one in the hierarchy? Ie is she submissive or dominant.
When one is ill, the other can sometimes try to take over the hierarchy

We always recommend probiotics when a pig is on antibiotics. Antibiotics can cause them to feel unwell, thus cause reduction in appetite and subsequent weight loss

You ideally would want the urine tested for the presence of bacteria. If there is little to none then you are actually looking at this being sterile cystitis which doesn’t have a cure. Antibiotics won’t cure it. Management is with painkillers and glucosamine.

As I said, veg can’t be weighed - go by volume, one cup.
I could not tell you whether the weights you are giving for veg is within an ideal range because there aren’t many, if any of us who go to the trouble to actually weigh the veg. I know I don’t.

 

[Zehuri]

Thank you for your information.


The vet said sadly some pigs can just be prone to crystals/ stones, that genetics can play a factor.

Current Diet:

• There water is all filtered we live in a soft water area
• They have large hay piles and get fresh meadow hay daily (the bulk of their diet)
• 1 TbSp of pellets each a day currently Selective Naturals Grain Free : Looking to switch to Piggie Parcels Urinary and Bladder
• 1 TbSp of dried forage mix: I thought 1TbSp each a day was suitable? I had assumed the mix I give is suitable to give daily. I have attached a photo of what is in it.

Example of Weekly Fresh Vegetables for 1 Guinea Pig:

I was told 1 cup is around 50g.
I was just finding it easier to weigh on the scales hence doing it to grams rather than using a cup.

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 25g yellow/green pepper, a slice of cucumber 5g, 10g coriander and 10g of celery
Wednesday: 25g yellow/ green pepper, 15g coriander and 15g of Romaine Lettuce
Friday: 25g Red Pepper, a slice of cucumber 5g, 10g coriander and 10g of celery
Sunday: 25g yellow/ green pepper, 15g coriander and 15g of something high in calcium just one type so either spinach or kale

Treats
They get 2 pea flakes once a week
After their weekly health check a dried carrot piece the size of a thumbnail

Now that I know one of them has something bladder related if you have any advice on what I could do, that would be great.


Questions:

• With syringe feeding is pellets soaked in hot water suitable as she is eating and drinking and running around/ popcorning or does she need Emeraid Critical Care? I found it strange the exotic vet didn't think she needed to be given supplement feed after Vet Visit 3 this week, given her current weight compared to what she was weighing normally a fee weeks ago
• I asked the vet is she needs to be given probiotics because she's on antibiotics and they said in this case she doesn't. Is that good advice?
• Given what her weight has been over the past 3 months, what weight am I supposed to be aiming for to give me an idea? As there was always a slight fluctuation between weekly weights.

Thank you

If there is a risk of any pain, then she should be on metacam.

While her weight loss from 20 Feb to today is within the 30g normal fluctuation, there is actually a definite downward trend. I would be giving enough critical care per day to stop that trend continuing.
I absolutely would be weighing her every day.
9am is fine is you haven’t given any morning food ie veg or critical care. Ideally you want a weight check before any morning food.

Which one is the poorly one in the hierarchy? Ie is she submissive or dominant.
When one is ill, the other can sometimes try to take over the hierarchy

We always recommend probiotics when a pig is on antibiotics. Antibiotics can cause them to feel unwell, thus cause reduction in appetite and subsequent weight loss

You ideally would want the urine tested for the presence of bacteria. If there is little to none then you are actually looking at this being sterile cystitis which doesn’t have a cure. Antibiotics won’t cure it. Management is with painkillers and glucosamine.

As I said, veg can’t be weighed - go by volume, one cup.
I could not tell you whether the weights you are giving for veg is within an ideal range because there aren’t many, if any of us who go to the trouble to actually weigh the veg. I know I don’t.

This is the daily dried forage mix they get 1TbSp each

Thank you for confirming that daily weighing is the right thing, I'll continue to do it at 09:00am. I weigh her before I give her her medication.


The one that is ill is the submissive one.
The one that is well is the dominant one.

I did happen to see the one that was ill last night raising her chin at the dominant one (the one who is well) so maybe the dominant one now repeatedly mounting and chasing the submissive one is in relation to that?

I just don't want the one who is submissive who is ill to be further stressed out if she's being chased and mounted. They seem okay right now and it's uncharacteristic of them both as they're a very mellow pair.

Thank you for advice I'll switch to a cup.

Questions

• I give 3 or 4 fresh items a day for their fresh veg, as described in the above post. Does it matter what size the pieces of the different items are as long as it fits in a cup? Or should the pepper piece always be bigger?
• Outwardly not showing any pain signs she's acting normal. Eating drinking, not lethargic etc hence the exotic vet said I can stop the metacam. I'm not sure how to tell if she's in pain if I can't see any outward signs of it ? So how do I know whether she needs to be in pain relief?
• Can birch leaf forage be given instead of metacam? I know if one is already being given (for example metacam) then the other (birch leaf forage) shouldn't be given.
• For syringe feeding given she is eating and drinking and not lethargic are mashed pellets and water suitable or does she need Emeraid Critical Care?
• I have no experience with syrienge feeding in regard to what amount and how often. How many feeds should I start her on and how many mls per feed?
• Probiotics is poop soup okay? Otherwsie which brand would you recommend?

Thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’ll link in our diet guide which shows a sample plate. The veg should be mostly leafy greens, with a small piece of pepper and cucumber daily.

A reduction in weight can be a sign of pain

I have absolutely no idea whether birch leaf provides any significant anti-inflammatory or pain relief. My guess would be it would have to be given a huge amount for there to be benefit if it does provide any.

Mashed pellets is simply the emergency alternative to critical care/ emeraid. Mashed pellets are fine to use but are lower in fibre than a proper recovery feed. As she doesn’t have a total loss of appetite, mashed pellets will probably suffice though.

Amount and how often with syringe feeding is purely determined by the daily weight checks. Any drop in weight day to day then it means they aren’t eating enough hay independently and you need to syringe feed more. There are no hard and fast rules - it’s just what the daily weight checks are telling you

Poop soup from a healthy companion is absolutely fine, otherwise fibreplex or pro c are commonly used probiotics

I personally wouldn’t give dried forage and pellets both at 1tbsp each. Others possibly do but pellets and dried forage are, proportionally, the same part of the diet.
I would give a combined total of 1tbsp per pig.
I don’t feed pellets any more than twice a week anyway though and I give dried forage instead.

Thread 'Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets'

Jul 14, 2014

1 The recommended ratio of food groups
2 Hay and fresh grass
3 Vegetables, fresh herbs and fruit with an illustrated balanced sample diet
4 Special dietary needs
- Urinary tract infections, bladder stones and sterile IC (non-bacterial interstitial cystitis)
- Diabetes and long term digestive problems
- Impaction in boars
- Pregnancy and nursing dietary tweaks (only visible to registered members who have accepted our no intentional breeding policy)...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Diet

• 

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

Jun 20, 2024

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 

Thread 'All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures'

Mar 9, 2022

Introduction
1 Choosing the right place to medicate/feed your piggy
2 Guinea pig whispering and asserting your authority
3 Recovery products and emergency improvisation
4 Syringe recommendations
5 Weight monitoring: your biggest ally
6 Weight loss guidelines and when to step in with feeding
7 Syringe feeding amounts/frequency advice
8 Practical medication and syringing tips
9 Medicating and feeding cooperative guinea pigs (videos)
10 Medicating and feeding uncooperative guinea pigs (hold pictures and tips)
11 The line between life and...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 
• 

 

[fluffysal]

Thank you for sharing your experience.
By bladder prone does he have cystitis or a UTI issue?

He's only 2 but has had several UTIs already. Neither I nor the vet like him to be on antibiotics frequently so she recommend glucosamine for him. He gets the pellets daily (and loves them) but if he starts showing symptoms he also gets johnsons 4 joints for a couple of weeks. This has helped him on a couple of occasions now. He enjoys the 4 joints too. My other boy is a satin. He's not showing signs of severe satin syndrome. Since being on the glucosamine boosted pellets too he has been much more mellow and calm. The vet agrees that it's possible that he has been in discomfort (rather than real pain) and the pellets have helped.
This is just my experience and if nothing else I know they are getting good quality pellets that they really enjoy.

 

[Zehuri]

I’ll link in our diet guide which shows a sample plate. The veg should be mostly leafy greens, with a small piece of pepper and cucumber daily.

A reduction in weight can be a sign of pain

I have absolutely no idea whether birch leaf provides any significant anti-inflammatory or pain relief. My guess would be it would have to be given a huge amount for there to be benefit if it does provide any.

Mashed pellets is simply the emergency alternative to critical care/ emeraid. Mashed pellets are fine to use but are lower in fibre than a proper recovery feed. As she doesn’t have a total loss of appetite, mashed pellets will probably suffice though.

Amount and how often with syringe feeding is purely determined by the daily weight checks. Any drop in weight day to day then it means they aren’t eating enough hay independently and you need to syringe feed more. There are no hard and fast rules - it’s just what the daily weight checks are telling you

Poop soup from a healthy companion is absolutely fine, otherwise fibreplex or pro c are commonly used probiotics

I personally wouldn’t give dried forage and pellets both at 1tbsp each. Others possibly do but pellets and dried forage are, proportionally, the same part of the diet.
I would give a combined total of 1tbsp per pig.
I don’t feed pellets any more than twice a week anyway though and I give dried forage instead.

Thread 'Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets'

Jul 14, 2014

1 The recommended ratio of food groups
2 Hay and fresh grass
3 Vegetables, fresh herbs and fruit with an illustrated balanced sample diet
4 Special dietary needs
- Urinary tract infections, bladder stones and sterile IC (non-bacterial interstitial cystitis)
- Diabetes and long term digestive problems
- Impaction in boars
- Pregnancy and nursing dietary tweaks (only visible to registered members who have accepted our no intentional breeding policy)...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Diet

• 

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

Jun 20, 2024

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 

Thread 'All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures'

Mar 9, 2022

Introduction
1 Choosing the right place to medicate/feed your piggy
2 Guinea pig whispering and asserting your authority
3 Recovery products and emergency improvisation
4 Syringe recommendations
5 Weight monitoring: your biggest ally
6 Weight loss guidelines and when to step in with feeding
7 Syringe feeding amounts/frequency advice
8 Practical medication and syringing tips
9 Medicating and feeding cooperative guinea pigs (videos)
10 Medicating and feeding uncooperative guinea pigs (hold pictures and tips)
11 The line between life and...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 
• 

Thank you very much for all your help, explanation and the guides!

She's back on the metacam 0.5 ml twice a day

Questions

- I don't know if our healthy pig has eaten any droppings of our pig that is on the medication (antibiotics, metacam and potassium citrate). Does that mean I can't use our healthy pigs droppings for poop soup?

- Potassium Citrate is that effective? Vet said about her needing to be on it long term.

- Celery, why is that not considered suitable as a daily veg?

 

[Zehuri]

He's only 2 but has had several UTIs already. Neither I nor the vet like him to be on antibiotics frequently so she recommend glucosamine for him. He gets the pellets daily (and loves them) but if he starts showing symptoms he also gets johnsons 4 joints for a couple of weeks. This has helped him on a couple of occasions now. He enjoys the 4 joints too. My other boy is a satin. He's not showing signs of severe satin syndrome. Since being on the glucosamine boosted pellets too he has been much more mellow and calm. The vet agrees that it's possible that he has been in discomfort (rather than real pain) and the pellets have helped.
This is just my experience and if nothing else I know they are getting good quality pellets that they really enjoy.

Glad to hear the pellets have helped them. Will try PP Urinary and Joint Pellets.

 

[Zehuri]

I’ll link in our diet guide which shows a sample plate. The veg should be mostly leafy greens, with a small piece of pepper and cucumber daily.

A reduction in weight can be a sign of pain

I have absolutely no idea whether birch leaf provides any significant anti-inflammatory or pain relief. My guess would be it would have to be given a huge amount for there to be benefit if it does provide any.

Mashed pellets is simply the emergency alternative to critical care/ emeraid. Mashed pellets are fine to use but are lower in fibre than a proper recovery feed. As she doesn’t have a total loss of appetite, mashed pellets will probably suffice though.

Amount and how often with syringe feeding is purely determined by the daily weight checks. Any drop in weight day to day then it means they aren’t eating enough hay independently and you need to syringe feed more. There are no hard and fast rules - it’s just what the daily weight checks are telling you

Poop soup from a healthy companion is absolutely fine, otherwise fibreplex or pro c are commonly used probiotics

I personally wouldn’t give dried forage and pellets both at 1tbsp each. Others possibly do but pellets and dried forage are, proportionally, the same part of the diet.
I would give a combined total of 1tbsp per pig.
I don’t feed pellets any more than twice a week anyway though and I give dried forage instead.

Thread 'Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets'

Jul 14, 2014

1 The recommended ratio of food groups
2 Hay and fresh grass
3 Vegetables, fresh herbs and fruit with an illustrated balanced sample diet
4 Special dietary needs
- Urinary tract infections, bladder stones and sterile IC (non-bacterial interstitial cystitis)
- Diabetes and long term digestive problems
- Impaction in boars
- Pregnancy and nursing dietary tweaks (only visible to registered members who have accepted our no intentional breeding policy)...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Diet

• 

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

Jun 20, 2024

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 

Thread 'All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures'

Mar 9, 2022

Introduction
1 Choosing the right place to medicate/feed your piggy
2 Guinea pig whispering and asserting your authority
3 Recovery products and emergency improvisation
4 Syringe recommendations
5 Weight monitoring: your biggest ally
6 Weight loss guidelines and when to step in with feeding
7 Syringe feeding amounts/frequency advice
8 Practical medication and syringing tips
9 Medicating and feeding cooperative guinea pigs (videos)
10 Medicating and feeding uncooperative guinea pigs (hold pictures and tips)
11 The line between life and...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 
• 

Had a look at the Thread from 2014 you posted above about the Diet and Food Groups, thank you.

I think that was where I got 50g of fresh veg per pig per day from as there were 2 reference below:

The daily amount of veg is about 30-50g. If you want to rather measure by volume, it comes to about 1 cup full of veg

15-20% preferably green veg, fresh forage and fresh herbs (ca. 1 cupful / 50g / nearly 2oz)

Questions

- The long-term-balanced-general-and-special-needs-guinea-pig-diets thread from 2014, is that information still current today for example the Balanced Sample Diet section and the Pellet amount 1TbSp per day?

- Whilst I am giving her mashed pellets with water to help boost her weight. What food group do I need to cut down on?

- I had assumed celery was safe to be given daily. Celery stalk and the celery leafy parts are they to be classed differently?

- Sterile Cystitis and Interstitial Cystitis are they two different conditions?

Thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes the diet guide is still relevant.

It is still 1 tbsp of pellets per day.

You don’t cut down on any food group while being
syringe fed.

Yes celery stalk and leaf is different - one is higher in calcium.

Sterile cystitis is interstitial cystitis. Its whole name is sterile interstitial cystitis but it is quite a mouthful so we tend to call it either sterile cystitis or IC

 

[Zehuri]

Yes the diet guide is still relevant.

It is still 1 tbsp of pellets per day.

You don’t cut down on any food group while being
syringe fed.

Yes celery stalk and leaf is different - one is higher in calcium.

Sterile cystitis is interstitial cystitis. Its whole name is sterile interstitial cystitis but it is quite a mouthful so we tend to call it either sterile cystitis or IC

Perfect thank you much appreciated for the clarification.

Questions

- Celery stalk is the part lower in calcium? So can that be fed daily?

- The 3 photos attached is that just normal excess calcium or is that bladder sludge or bladder grit?


- Should lighter pieces of hay turn this colour when urinated on?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Stalk is lower but I would not feed celery daily.
It is on the sample plate as something that can be fed but not really as a daily suggestion, I wouldn’t do it more than twice a week.

Does the patch feel gritty at all?
If it feels chalky then it is ok but you don’t want to be seeing that a lot: if you are seeing a lot of deposits then it can mean something isn’t right in the diet.
If it feels gritty then the diet needs changing and you need to follow up with the vet. Gritty calcium pees are not something you want to be happening - that is crystals forming in the bladder.

The hay colour is just staining from urine. Its fine

 

[Zehuri]

Stalk is lower but I would not feed celery daily.
It is on the sample plate as something that can be fed but not really as a daily suggestion, I wouldn’t do it more than twice a week.

Does the patch feel gritty at all?
If it feels chalky then it is ok but you don’t want to be seeing that a lot: if you are seeing a lot of deposits then it can mean something isn’t right in the diet.
If it feels gritty then the diet needs changing and you need to follow up with the vet. Gritty calcium pees are not something you want to be happening - that is crystals forming in the bladder.

The hay colour is just staining from urine. Its fine

I just realised the hay looks to actually be straw!

Thank you for explaining about the celery.

I'll have a look at the patches.

Questions

- Probiotics: I don't know if our healthy pig has eaten any droppings of our pig that is on the medication (antibiotics, metacam and potassium citrate). Does that mean I can't use her droppings for poop soup for the unwell guinea pig?

- Potassium Citrate is that effective? Vet said about her needing to be on it long term.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I just realised the hay looks to actually be straw!

Thank you for explaining about the celery.

I'll have a look at the patches.

Questions

- Probiotics: I don't know if our healthy pig has eaten any droppings of our pig that is on the medication (antibiotics, metacam and potassium citrate). Does that mean I can't use her droppings for poop soup for the unwell guinea pig?

- Potassium Citrate is that effective? Vet said about her needing to be on it long term.

As long as she isn’t on medication herself then yes you can still use her poops for poop soup.
You can use a commercial probiotic if you are worried though

Potassium citrate is prescribed for bladder issues and is fine for her to have. it may slow down the formation of future stones. It is not a miracle cure for bladder problems though

 

[Zehuri]

As long as she isn’t on medication herself then yes you can still use her poops for poop soup.
You can use a commercial probiotic if you are worried though

Potassium citrate is prescribed for bladder issues and is fine for her to have. it may slow down the formation of future stones. It is not a miracle cure for bladder problems though

Is it Emeraid Critical Care that already has Probiotics in?

Her 14 day antibiotics course actually finishes tomorrow.

Should probiotics be given for 2 weeks after the antibiotics course has finished?

 

[Zehuri]

As long as she isn’t on medication herself then yes you can still use her poops for poop soup.
You can use a commercial probiotic if you are worried though

Potassium citrate is prescribed for bladder issues and is fine for her to have. it may slow down the formation of future stones. It is not a miracle cure for bladder problems though

Antibiotics Due to Urine Sample

She was put on a 14 day course of antibiotics because of the blood found in her urine when the vet analysed it.

The antibiotics course finished Wednesday morning. I submitted a post antibiotics sample yesterday.

As you can see from the photo attached physically you can’t see any blood. I’ve never seen any blood physically in their urine ever. As it can only be seen when it’s analysed
. She could have had blood in her urine for months.


The vet said the post antibiotics urine sample contains less blood than the urine sample analysed before the antibiotics.

But that it is still dilute and certainly contains crystals. She said In both samples there was some protein due to the dilute urine.

What does this mean? That is the blood was the result of a bacterial UTI/ Bacterial Cystitis that the blood should have completely stopped?



Pain Relief/ Weight Loss

When I stopped the pain relief (Metacam twice a day) I noticed her weight dipped a bit and she was challenging her sister who is naturally the dominant one.

As soon as I put her back on pain relief everything was back to normal which suggests she is in some degree of pain.

The vet has it is hard to know if her being in pain is simply her being a slightly older guinea pig or not (will be approximately 4 in April going off adoption age) or if it’s to do with her urine sample.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It would be best to ask your vet for a clearer explanation and diagnosis.

If crystals are present then they may be causing bleeding?

Did the sample contain bacteria? That would be helpful to know.
If it contained significant bacteria before antibiotics but that it is now gone post antibiotics then it was a bacterial issue.
If it didn’t contain significant bacteria before antibiotics and still doesn’t contain bacteria now, but symptoms persist then it may be sterile (non-bacterial) cystitis.

 

[Zehuri]

The vets just did an in house analysis of her pre antibiotic urine sample, so other than knowing there were crystals present and blood (not visible to the human eye) I don’t know what the bacteria count was for it.

However the vet has said they can send off her post antibiotic urine sample to get further insight.

I have also attached her weights which includes today.

She’s getting 5ml of mashed pellets and water mix once in the morning and once in the evening for now. Her weight currently seems stable. I may continue for another week and then stop. I’m not sure if she’ll go back to being in the 930g - 950g range again.